Shillong, August 1: Lung cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common overall in India. It is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide claiming more lives yearly than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.
Every year August 1 is observed as World Lung Cancer Day to raise awareness about lung cancer issues.
Statistics show that more than 90 per cent of lung cancers in men and more than 80 per cent of lung cancers in women develop in smokers. Causes/risk factors of lung cancer are smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, other carcinogens, air pollution, arsenic in drinking water, previous radiation to lungs and personal or family history of lung cancer.
According to Dr. Subhakar Nadella, Consultant Clinical & Interventional Pulmonologist KIMS Hospital, Kondapur, most of the time no symptoms are seen in the early stages of lung cancer leading to diagnosis at late stages of the disease, making their treatment more problematic.
“Subsequently, this delay in diagnosis significantly reduces the overall lung cancer survival rate. If lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years or more improves to 55 per cent, and five-year survival rate for those diagnosed before cancer has spread rises from 18 out of every 100 people to 55 out of every 100 (3 times increase in survival rate) implying that early screening helps in better survival. As TB is endemic in India, the challenge lies in differentiating TB and lung cancer in the early stages,” he said.
There are some classic symptoms of lung cancer that are generally not a cause for worry but should be evaluated in old age. Persistent cough, shortness of breath, hoarseness, chronic bronchitis, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, bone pain.
In patients with ages between 50 – 80 years, smoking pack years of more than 20, ex-smokers up to the past 15 years, and with environmental or occupational exposure to harmful gases, air pollution should have awareness about lung cancer and should be screened periodically.
Recent advances in lung cancer evaluation and management like Biomarkers, Liquid biopsy, Immunotherapy, Robotics, Stereotactic Radiation, etc have improved treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Dr. Bharath Janapati, Consultant Pulmonologist, Century Hospitals said, “By the time patients in India present to a doctor, lung cancer is usually in an advanced stage when nothing much can be done.
Some early signs of lung cancer are cough with or without sputum, breathlessness, weakness, lack of strength, and poor appetite for more than two weeks.
Chest pain and blood on coughing can also be present. Advanced signs include excess fatigue, unintentional weight loss, headache, bone pain and muscle weakness.
Although several advances have been made in diagnosis and treatment, the overall outcome for lung cancer patients in India is still poor, largely due to late presentation. Hence, a detailed understanding of the risk factors, cause of the condition and preventive measures can impact patients and communities.
Lung cancer usually starts in the cell lining of lungs and airways. Lifestyle factors such as tobacco smoking, cooking with bio-mass fuels like firewood, cow dung, coal etc., air pollution, exposure to radiation, certain industrial exposures involving asbestos, in addition to genetic factors are some of the causes. Even though non-smokers can develop lung cancer, smokers are at 10 times more risk and also develop the more aggressive forms.”
According to Dr NVS Ramakrishna, Sr. Consultant – Medical Oncology, SLG Hospitals, the current graph of lung cancer in India seems similar to the Western demographic. This is broadly classified into two categories. Non-small cell lung cancers- NSCLC and Small Cell Lung Cancers- SCLC.
“Most of the lung cancers begin in the bronchi lining and grow in different ways. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most predominant lung cancer in India. It accounts for 80% lung cancer cases, it spreads and grows slowly compared to other types of cancer. (Source: IANS)